Installers won't install

cook19709 · 04-05-2009, 04:42 PM

Tried Ubuntu 8.10 and Fedora 10. Both hang on initial graphical progressbar screen.

Ubuntu gets to the last two or three little squares, Fedora gets almost to the end. Neither give a failure screen or error or anything at all.

Their sites and web searches provide old or incomplete help - most assume the user is familiar with Linux. I am not.

Is there a concise, step-by-step tutorial for installations?

Tinkster · 04-05-2009, 04:53 PM

Hi,

welcome to LQ!

Sorry to hear you're off to a bad start; to be able to assist you we
may require more input, e.g. the hardware you're trying to install
them on...

Cheers,
Tink

cook19709 · 04-05-2009, 05:13 PM

Hardware and things I've tried:

AMD Athlon64 3000 on MSI K8n Neo v2 MB w/ 1GB ram | integrated AC97 sound
NVidia Geforce 6600 w/256mb AGP
USB Ideazone keyboard - switched to vanilla PS/2 keyboard
Logitech USB optical mouse
Netgear WG311v3 wireless LAN

Motherboard:
turned off RAID (and damned near everything else)
turned off I/O, parallel ports, etc
tried with and without APIC stuff
turned off integrated LAN

Distro CDs worked in my laptop.

Shootin in the dark because I can't read the goofs.

Much Grass!, TIA

DragonSlayer48DX · 04-05-2009, 06:00 PM

Here is an updated step-by-step tutorial for installing Ubuntu, including screenshots for easy reference.

Just a question, How long did you wait? Sometimes hardware detection and configuration can take a while, even on fast machines.

Cheers, and good luck!

cook19709 · 04-05-2009, 06:38 PM

Thanx guys,

It freezes between pics 3 & 4 of the tutorial...been about 35 min now...

DragonSlayer48DX · 04-05-2009, 06:52 PM

Hmmm. interesting. I have no problem with the tutorial, but I've lost connection with one of my mail servers...

Anyway, I asked how long did you wait before you decided the installation went awry? Speaking from my own past experience with Ubuntu, it seems to hang (for quite a while) during the hardware detection and configuration with some machines, which is near the end of installation.

cook19709 · 04-05-2009, 07:22 PM

I've been letting it go. No change now for 1 hr, 15 minutes.

cook19709 · 04-05-2009, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragonslayer48dx

Hmmm. interesting. I have no problem with the tutorial, but I've lost connection with one of my mail servers...

Anyway, I asked how long did you wait before you decided the installation went awry? Speaking from my own past experience with Ubuntu, it seems to hang (for quite a while) during the hardware detection and configuration with some machines, which is near the end of installation.

I just figured out what you meant. I just referred to the tutorial so you might know where my system is hanging.

Linux is trying to be a clean install on my old machine. I just looked at the tutorial, and am writing this, on my laptop.

The Linux to (to be) box isn't working at all yet.

DragonSlayer48DX · 04-05-2009, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cook19709

I just figured out what you meant. I just referred to the tutorial so you might know where my system is hanging.

My bad...

Did you try the live CD at all to see if your hardware would work? You might need to try different distros- Different distro maintainers 'adjust' their systems for different purposes... Some work better with older hardware, not too well with newer, and some are just the opposite.

linus72 · 04-05-2009, 09:25 PM

Check out my multi-distro stuff with lots of stuff on a 512MB USB or CD-
That way you can try dfferent distro's with one cd/usb

( http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...-works-714322/ )

cook19709 · 04-06-2009, 12:37 PM

Live CD is what I was trying. Neglected to mention - at one time or another, I wound up at something called BusyBox and a command prompt. Didn't know what to do. Not sure I could do it again.

This morning, tried 64 bit Live CD - no difference.

Since it seems to be hanging during hardware ID, when I get home from work I will yank the NetGear card (don't need it right now) and try again. If that doesn't get it, I'm really stuck.

cook19709 · 04-06-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragonslayer48dx

... try different distros- Different distro maintainers 'adjust' their systems for different purposes... Some work better with older hardware, not too well with newer, and some are just the opposite.

I saw some comparison sites, but did not see any of older vs. newer, or quirky vs. smooth...

I selected Ubuntu cuz it seemed like it was supposed to be a breeze, and Fedora cuz it is purported to be leading edge and sponsored by Redhat (figured it would give it some horsepower / clout).

DragonSlayer48DX · 04-06-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cook19709

I saw some comparison sites, but did not see any of older vs. newer, or quirky vs. smooth...

Yeah, they don't actually say that. It turns into a trial-and-error situation for the users that have problems.

BTW- I Googled nVidia's website to check your video card, and couldn't find Linux support for it. Seems the 6600 AGP is fairly new.

cook19709 · 04-06-2009, 02:18 PM

Thanx, you are a huge help.

Found the drivers. Can I force standard VGA or something to at least get the installer going?

DragonSlayer48DX · 04-06-2009, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cook19709

Can I force standard VGA or something to at least get the installer going?

Yes. First, I recommend checking the CD for errors (third option on the boot screen). When you're done and return to the boot screen, press F4 and select "Safe Graphics Mode". This will load the Vesa driver in standard VGA mode. Not the most elegant with high-end equipment, but it should get you going.